38Pet Product news International August 2017erchanDIsIngDrawIng attentIon to FooD

Some of the most effective retail displays in aquarium shops
involve monitors behind the registers that play reels to highlight
the various products they carry. However, displays can only go
so far.

“Having fish fed the product, and this fact being displayedproudly, is a great sales tool because the consumers can see theresults—assuming the retailer has confidence in the productto produce results,” said Ian Tepoot, president of Homestead,Fla.-based New Life International, maker of Spectrum Fish Food.“Also, for smaller retailers that can do so, there is no substitutefor a knowledgeable salesperson who uses the product and canprovide information and testimonial.”Jason Oneppo, head of research and development at OceanNutrition Americas in Newark, Calif., said keeping food at orbehind the front counter near the register is a good idea.

“When customers are purchasing fish, it gives employees
the opportunity to ask what foods they are feeding,” he said.

“They can then recommend additional foods based on the
species of fish that are being purchased and what the customer
has in their aquarium at home. This is also an excellent way to
start a conversation and build a valuable, lasting relationship
with customers.”

INDUSTRYVOICESwhat is your best tip forincreasing sales of fish foods?

“There needs to be something real tosay about the product. For example, oursfocuses on a big selling point: that Spec-trum has a results-oriented guaranteethat users can claim if not performing asexpected. Retailers have communicatedto us that this is the single biggestconfidence-instilling message wedisseminate.”—Ian tePoot, presidentof Homestead, Fla.-based New Life Inter-national, maker of Spectrum Fish Food“We will email blast out a different brand pellet each month, providing more infor-mation about the pellets and putting them on sale every month or two.”

—Jason Frey, president of Premium Aquatics in Edinburgh, Ind.

“If the retailer is trying to build a consumer database, they can offer a weekly
drawing for a package of pellet food,
with each entrant putting their name,
city and email on the drawing ticket.

The cost for the product is nothing compared to the benefit the retailer will get
from the email list they can develop.”

—chrIs clevers, president of Hikari
Sales USA in Hayward, Calif.

“I saw a great retail location
where they kept a display
of the foods in the fish
room section. This way,
it is a great lead to talk to
consumers about the fish
food.”—chrIs lerose,
aquatic division manager
for The Hagen Group in
Mansfield, Mass.

central garDen & Pet’s aqueon neoglow leD aquarium Kits add fun and color to
any room. Kits include a glass aquarium with fluorescent silicone, a black background, a
low-profile hood with blue LED lighting, decorative plants, multicolor gravel, QuietFlow
filtration, and fish food and water-care samples.
aqueonproducts.com
sPectruM BranDs offers the tetra gloFish color-changing Background. It is
designed for environments up to 25 gal., but the repeating image allows consumers to place two together for aquariums up to 55 gal. The company’s GloFish Cycle Lights make GloFish color-changing décor transform under different light modes.

The background reveals hidden images in midnight mode.
tetra-fish.com

Python ProDucts’ water conditionermakes tap
water safe by neutralizing chlorine and chloramine
and detoxifying heavy metals. It contains aloe vera
to help repair damaged fins and provides a layer of
protection for fish.
pythonproducts.com

Python ProDucts’ Biological supplement helps
to enrich aquarium water and jump-start the aquarium cycle. It contains 300 million live bacteria per
teaspoonful to enhance the growth of any biological
filter and reduce ammonia buildup. It is very effective
at starting a new aquarium, replenishing lost bacteria
from filter maintenance and restoring biological
filtration after the use of antibiotic medications.

pythonproducts.com

Python ProDucts’ Biological Digester/cleaner

reduces the time and need for cleaning power filters,
gravel and interior aquarium surfaces (decorations,
etc.). It is an organic-waste digester that dissolves
sludge, fish waste and slow-decaying matter (mulm)
that can build up in an aquarium over time. The
product utilizes highly active bacteria and enzymes
that go to work instantly. It can cause ammonia levels
to spike if used on a particularly filthy aquarium, and it
is recommended for use in conjunction with the company’s Biological Supplement as part of an effective
maintenance team.
pythonproducts.com